The 60-Minute Kitchen Deep Clean: A Step-by-Step Checklist

The kitchen is the hardest-working room in the house, and it shows. Grease builds up on surfaces you rarely notice, crumbs hide in corners, and the fridge slowly fills with forgotten leftovers.

A deep clean does not have to take a whole weekend. Working in the right order — top to bottom, dry to wet — means you never clean the same spot twice. Set a timer for 60 minutes and follow along.

What you need

• Microfibre cloths and a non-scratch sponge
• Warm water with a few drops of dish soap
• Baking soda and white vinegar
• An all-purpose cleaner suitable for your surfaces
• A bin bag and rubber gloves

Minutes 0–10: clear and soak

Empty the sink and dish rack, and clear the counters completely. Put oven racks, stove grates and extractor fan filters into a sink or tub of very hot, soapy water to soak while you work.

Spread a paste of baking soda and a little water inside the oven, avoiding the heating elements. It will loosen baked-on grease while you clean everything else.

Minutes 10–25: top to bottom

1. Cabinet tops and high shelves. Dust first, then wipe with warm soapy water — this is where sticky grease collects.
2. Cabinet doors and handles. Wipe with soapy water and dry with a clean cloth.
3. Backsplash and walls. Pay extra attention behind the stove.
4. Small appliances. Wipe the kettle, toaster and coffee machine. Empty the toaster crumb tray.

Minutes 25–40: fridge and microwave

Take everything out of one fridge shelf at a time. Throw away anything expired, wipe the shelf with warm soapy water, then put the food back. Leave an open box of baking soda inside to absorb odours.

For the microwave, heat a bowl of water with a slice of lemon or a splash of vinegar for three minutes. Leave the door closed for two more minutes, then wipe — the steam does most of the work.

Minutes 40–55: oven, stove and sink

Wipe out the baking soda paste in the oven with a damp cloth. Spray any remaining white residue with a little vinegar, which fizzes and lifts it, and wipe again.

Scrub the soaked racks and grates, rinse and dry. Clean the stovetop, then finish with the sink: scrub the basin, the tap and around the drain, where grime and bacteria like to hide.

Minutes 55–60: floor and finish

Sweep or vacuum, getting into corners and under the edge of cabinets, then mop. Put the clean filters back, take out the bin and replace the bag.

To keep it this way, do a two-minute reset every evening: clear the counters, wipe the stove and run the dishwasher. A little each day means your next deep clean will be even faster.